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Friday, August 8, 2014

Los Angeles - OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today the
television debut of "The Specials." The groundbreaking docu-series
shares the funny, honest story of five housemates with
intellectual disabilities living the classic student lifestyle in
England. All 13 episodes will air back-to-back on Sunday, September 7 from 2:30 - 9 p.m.

Filmed over four years and narrated by housemates Sam, Hilly, Lucy,
Lewis and Megan, all between the ages of 19-23 and close friends
since childhood, "The Specials" shares the ups and downs of their daily
lives from first love to heartbreak, from leaving college to finding a
job, as well as the day-to-day interactions and complications of sharing
a house together. The housemates live life to the max - they enjoy
everything from surfing and karaoke to even competing in the
Special Olympics.

"We were extremely thrilled to bring this series to OWN. We fell in
love with the fun, adventurous energy and bond the housemates share,"
said producer Carolyn Strauss. "It is our hope that viewers are not only
entertained by their experiences, but inspired by their excitement for
life and encouraged to accept and celebrate all people no matter their
walk in life."

The Webby Award-winning series was originally produced as short
form,10-minute webisodes in England. OWN will televise fresh, newly
adapted episodes following housemates as they continue to support each
other through major changes in their lives -- everything from breakups,
to a parents' divorce and finally an engagement. The series truly
highlights that we are all more alike than different.

"The Specials" is produced by Katy Lock and Daniel May for KADA Media
and executive produced by Carolyn Strauss and D.B. Weiss ("Game of
Thrones"), Rosie O'Donnell in association with KidRo Productions and
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.

About OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for,
and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey's heart and
creative instincts inform the brand - and the magnetism of the channel.
Winfrey provides leadership in programming and attracts superstar
talent to join her in primetime, building a global community of
like-minded viewers and leading that community to connect on social
media and beyond. OWN is a singular destination on cable. Depth with
edge. Heart. Star power. Connection. And endless possibilities. OWN
is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery Communications.
The network debuted on January 1, 2011 and is available in 85 million
homes. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com. For more information, please visit www.oprah.com/own and www.press.discovery.com/us/own.

About Me

I am full-time Mass Communication faculty at Towson University in Maryland and adjunct faculty in the City University of New York (CUNY) Master's in Disability Studies program.
I research media and disability issues and wrote a 2010 book on the subject: Representing Disability in an Ableist World: Essays on Mass Media, published by Advocado Press.
The media have real power to define what the public knows about disability and that's what I research.